Zak Meyer (seated), Yasab Pfister (standing) and other Center School students plan campaign to retain popular teacher Jon Greenberg. Greenberg, who teaches a race-and-social-justice curriculum, gained attention of school officials after the family of one student complained about the curriculum. The majority of the school's students supported the teacher after the district sought to censor the course. less

Zak Meyer (seated), Yasab Pfister (standing) and other Center School students plan campaign to retain popular teacher Jon Greenberg. Greenberg, who teaches a race-and-social-justice curriculum, gained ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

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Students from The Center School gather during a break in the school day to plan their response after teacher Jon Greenberg was transferred from the school. Greenberg, who teaches a race-and-social-justice curriculum, gained attention of school officials after the family of one student complained about the curriculum. The majority of the school's students supported the teacher after the district sought to censor the course. less

Students from The Center School gather during a break in the school day to plan their response after teacher Jon Greenberg was transferred from the school. Greenberg, who teaches a race-and-social-justice ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

Image 3 of 4

Students from The Center School gather during a break in the school day to plan their response after teacher Jon Greenberg was transferred from the school. Greenberg, who teaches a race-and-social-justice curriculum, gained attention of school officials after the family of one student complained about the curriculum. The majority of the school's students supported the teacher after the district sought to censor the course. less

Students from The Center School gather during a break in the school day to plan their response after teacher Jon Greenberg was transferred from the school. Greenberg, who teaches a race-and-social-justice ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM

Image 4 of 4

Suspension stands but popular Seattle teacher heads back to classroom

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A 10-day suspension is still on his record, but popular Center School teacher Jon Greenberg will be able to return to class and to his Citizenship and Social Justice curriculum on Monday.

Saying he wants to start the second semester “on a positive note,” Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Larry Nyland told students and parents at the high school: “Mr. Greenberg will be allowed to start teaching students at The Center School on February 2, 2015.”

Greenberg had been set to begin his suspension next week. The decision to relent follows a pro-Greenberg petition, sponsored by the Seattle Teachers Association and signed by hundreds of faculty, as well as a direct appeal by students at Center School.

“It’s good to know standing up for our rights and education pays off … I’m hoping this is the end of the crazy ride they’ve put him through,” said Gracie Rauen, a senior at Center School, a small, arts-oriented high school located at the old armory at Seattle Center.

But Greenberg sees no positive notes in actions by Seattle Public Schools during a controversy that lasted for 21 months and sent him on a year-long involuntary transfer to another school.

“The superintendent altered the suspension dates because he heard the widespread unrest that would result if the suspension started on Monday,” Greenberg said in a letter to supporters.

On Wednesday, Greenberg received a letter from Nyland saying, in Greenberg’s words, that the teacher had “magically served” his 10-day suspension by dint of taking off the first semester of the school year as a voluntary, unpaid leave.

“The letter (to students) is deceptive: It hides that the district has put a 10-day suspension on my record,” Greenberg told SeattlePI.com.

“A 10-day suspension sends the message that little will protect a good teacher, not high test scores, not positive evaluations, not community accolades. All it takes is one parent opposed to racial dialogue and willing to file a complaint full of egregious misinformation — and it all can crumble.

“Teachers need to know about the 10-day suspension because it means they are no safer when confronting race and racism in the classroom. Meanwhile, the federal investigation by the Department of Education into disproportionate discipline practices continues.”

The controversy dates from the spring of 2013, when a single family complained of an allegedly intimidating atmosphere in Greenberg’s class. The district “investigated” but did not interview other students in the class or fellow teachers.

At issue was “Courageous Conversations,” a part of the curriculum in which students spoke of racism in their own lives. Students of both genders and differing racial backgrounds later praised both that part of the class and its demanding reading list.

The district initially told Greenberg he could continue teaching Citizenship and Social Justice — without “Courageous Conversations.” The same family lodged a second complaint, alleging an intimidating atmosphere. A petition supporting Greenberg — one that would garner 600 signatures — had been circulated in the classroom.

The school district then sent Greenberg packing to Hamilton Middle School. The protests over his treatment continued at two school board meetings. The case was treated by many teachers as a signal that it was dangerous to teach about racism and social justice in Seattle schools.

Greenberg and his union appealed. An arbitrator ruled that the school district erred in transferring Greenberg as a disciplinary punishment. The ruling said, however, that Seattle Public Schools could suspend Greenberg for two weeks. Nyland did just that in late December.

The Greenberg case has, however, served as a citizenship laboratory for students, faculty, parents and alumni at Center School.

The school district was not able to run out the clock. The Center School class of 2013 graduated, but the defense of Greenberg continued.

On Jan. 12, a delegation of Center School students came to Nyland’s office to, in the superintendent’s words, “petition against a staffing decision.” They followed up last week with a tough letter.

“That petition made many good points — most notably the importance of having staff in place at the start of the new semester …” Nyland wrote. “Students demonstrated their commitment by engaging personally in issues that are important to them — a great life skill.”

Nyland wrote that he is “not comfortable discussing a staffing issue with students,” but did share his thinking about the 28-page arbitrator’s decision that lifted Greenberg’s exile, but said he could be suspended.

“One could say nobody is happy with the decision,” Nyland added. “It is, however, the decision making process that was agreed to by the parties. Somewhat like a judge’s decision, it is the decision that we have — based on many laws and policies.

“In this case, my responsibility is to take steps under one set of laws and policies to protect the rights of teachers, and under another set of laws and procedures to protect the rights of students from harassment, intimidation and bullying. I take both responsibilities seriously.”

The student who coordinated Greenberg’s defenders in the spring of 2013, Zak Meyer, is now a sophomore at Western Washington University.

“I just hope the school district and Jon start mending fences so that teachers in Seattle can bring meaningful programs on race and social justice to their classrooms,” Meyer said.

The advocacy for Greenberg — with its petitions, arguments before the Seattle School Board, and enlistment of parents and alumni — has been, in Meyer’s view, a learning experience.

“The best lesson you can engage in is to fight for social justice,” Meyer said. “Defending this curriculum, in social discourse, was an invaluable lesson we never could have had in a social setting.”